Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Santiago

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiang Mai: $936 a month against $1,163 in Santiago, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai Living Index
56

Cost of Living Index in Santiago
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Santiago Living Index

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Chiang Mai

🇹🇭 Thailand

$936

/mo nomad

Santiago

🇨🇱 Chile

$1,163

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Chiang Mai and in Santiago

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Chiang Mai and in Santiago actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $936 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,163 in Santiago, rent included.

Chiang Mai $936
Santiago $1,163

A couple spends around $1,457 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,844 in Santiago, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,457
Santiago $1,844

A family of three spends $1,979 per month in Chiang Mai vs $2,525 in Santiago, rent included.

Chiang Mai $1,979
Santiago $2,525

Chiang Mai is about 20% cheaper than Santiago, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Chiang Mai and Santiago are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Santiago 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.24 ฿75.7

$9.93 CLP 9,771

-77.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.00 ฿642

$49.88 CLP 49.1K

-61.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.55 ฿188

$8.64 CLP 8,502

-35.76%

Cappuccino

$1.67 ฿56.6

$3.16 CLP 3,110

-47.15%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 ฿21.56

$1.65 CLP 1,626

-61.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ฿10.32

$1.24 CLP 1,223

-75.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.36 ฿79.6

$4.12 CLP 4,052

-42.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 ฿124

$4.60 CLP 4,530

-20.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ฿65.8

$1.22 CLP 1,203

59.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ฿48.51

$1.82 CLP 1,786

-20.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 ฿45.07

$1.58 CLP 1,557

-15.82%

Eggs

$2.28 ฿77.1

$4.04 CLP 3,975

-43.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.45 ฿556

$10.96 CLP 10.8K

50.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$6.66 CLP 6,552

-58.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.31 ฿314

$10.32 CLP 10.2K

-9.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 ฿79.5

$2.02 CLP 1,983

16.34%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 ฿32.82

$1.49 CLP 1,464

-34.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 ฿53.9

$1.58 CLP 1,553

1.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 ฿50.7

$1.72 CLP 1,688

-12.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿43.15

$1.04 CLP 1,027

23.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 ฿37.22

$1.51 CLP 1,485

-27.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 ฿23.84

$1.22 CLP 1,198

-41.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ฿16.38

$1.10 CLP 1,082

-55.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 ฿140

$5.10 CLP 5,014

-18.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.52 ฿592

$5.93 CLP 5,834

195.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ฿54.5

$1.48 CLP 1,456

8.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 ฿94.0

$2.25 CLP 2,211

23.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 ฿29.33

$0.84 CLP 824

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.1 ฿1,827

$40.64 CLP 40.0K

33.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 ฿39.08

$0.38 CLP 375

205.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 ฿17.82

$0.82 CLP 805

-35.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿81.8

$11.53 CLP 11.3K

-79.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.93

$1.52 CLP 1,500

-4.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.1K ฿711.2K

$16.8K CLP 16.6M

25.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K ฿909.8K

$24.9K CLP 24.5M

8.10%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$62.2 ฿2,100

$146 CLP 143.3K

-57.33%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.17 ฿411

$12.20 CLP 12.0K

-0.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.12 ฿680

$18.80 CLP 18.5K

7.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.31 ฿1,260

$32.41 CLP 31.9K

15.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 ฿127

$11.68 CLP 11.5K

-67.72%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 ฿219

$7.58 CLP 7,461

-14.38%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$736 ฿24.9K

$440 CLP 432.6K

67.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.8K ฿498.6K

$10.7K CLP 10.5M

38.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 ฿1,802

$48.81 CLP 48.0K

9.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ฿832

$28.87 CLP 28.4K

-14.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.5 ฿3,089

$64.4 CLP 63.3K

42.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.9 ฿2,429

$80.9 CLP 79.6K

-11.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 ฿16.3K

$497 CLP 488.9K

-2.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 ฿10.4K

$373 CLP 367.4K

-17.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 ฿34.0K

$989 CLP 972.6K

1.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ฿21.4K

$750 CLP 737.8K

-15.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 ฿79.8K

$2,960 CLP 2.9M

-20.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,589 ฿53.7K

$2,517 CLP 2.5M

-36.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$590 ฿19.9K

$771 CLP 758.5K

-23.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

5.39

3.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: October 26, 2026

Last update for Santiago: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Chiang Mai

$309 33%

Santiago

$373 32.1% 20.9% $65

Groceries & Markets

Chiang Mai

$234 25.1%

Santiago

$232 19.9% 1.1% $2.5

Clothing & Footwear

Chiang Mai

$109 11.6%

Santiago

$100 8.6% 7.6% $8.3

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Chiang Mai

$94 10.1%

Santiago

$177 15.2% 87.1% $82

Eating Out

Chiang Mai

$78 8.3%

Santiago

$185 15.9% 138% $107

Getting Around

Chiang Mai

$61 6.6%

Santiago

$48 4.2% 21% $13

Sport & Entertainment

Chiang Mai

$50 5.4%

Santiago

$48 4.1% 5.4% $2.7

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Chiang Mai versus $497 in Santiago. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 31% higher in Santiago. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai versus $50 in Santiago. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Chiang Mai vs $232 in Santiago – so Santiago wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇹🇭 Chiang Mai

🇨🇱 Santiago

🕒 Local time

19:00 7:00 PM

09:00 9:00 AM

10 h behind Chiang Mai

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

127,240

6,139,087 Capital

💱 Currency

Thai Baht THB ฿

Chilean Peso CLP $

📈 Exchange rate

100 THB = 2.96 USD

100 THB = 2.66 EUR

10,000 CLP = 10.17 USD

10,000 CLP = 9.13 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

CLP, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇹🇭 Thai Baht (฿)

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 33.77 THB (100 THB = 2.96 USD). 1 EUR = 37.58 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Chilean Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 984 CLP (1,000 CLP = 1.02 USD). 1 EUR = 1,095 CLP (10,000 CLP = 9.13 EUR).

USD to THB in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Chiang Mai Santiago 18,090 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight

From you

Chiang Mai
Santiago

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Santiago: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Santiago costs about 24% more than Chiang Mai, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,403 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,745 in Santiago. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A central 1-bedroom goes for about $482 in Chiang Mai and $497 in Santiago. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19 in Chiang Mai and $50 in Santiago. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 25% less in Santiago. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

$800 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $936 in Chiang Mai and $1,163 in Santiago. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $936 in Chiang Mai to $1,163 in Santiago. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Chiang Mai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santiago makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.